Subject: Weekend Closures on Phoenix Area Freeways (January 27 - 30); Drivers Urged to Use Alternate Routes Date: Thursday, January 26, 2006 9:30 PM Weekend Closures on Phoenix Area Freeways (January 27 - 30); Drivers Urged to Use Alternate Routes January 26, 2006 Several freeway closures are scheduled this weekend in the Phoenix area (Jan. 27-30). The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is encouraging drivers to use alternate routes while the following closures are in place: Westbound U.S. 60 (Superstition Freeway) will be narrowed to one lane between Power and Higley roads from 11 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday for bridge expansion work, concrete barrier installation and sign removal. The westbound U.S. 60 on ramp at Superstition Springs Blvd. will be closed on Saturday. Drivers should give themselves extra travel time or consider using alternate routes, including the westbound Loop 202 (Red Mountain Freeway), or Guadalupe and Broadway roads, to travel beyond the freeway restriction. This work is part of the $73 million project to add new lanes to US 60 between Gilbert and Power roads. Westbound I-10 will be closed between State Route 143 (Hohokam Expressway) and 32nd Street from 10 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 28) and nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday nights (Jan. 29 - Jan. 31) for overhead sign replacement work. Westbound I-10 traffic will be detoured onto northbound SR 143 (Hohokam Expressway) to westbound Loop 202 to westbound I-10. Sky Harbor Airport traffic can access the airport from northbound SR 143. The following ramps also will be closed: westbound U.S. 60 carpool ramp to westbound I-10 and the westbound I-10 entrance ramps at Broadway Road, southbound SR 143 and 40th Street. The Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) in the West Valley will be narrowed to one lane northbound and two lanes southbound between Camelback Road and Glendale Avenue from 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday (Jan. 23) for bridge construction at the Maryland Avenue overpass. Drivers should consider using 99th Avenue as an alternate route to avoid any traffic backups on the freeway. U.S. 60 (Grand Avenue) will be narrowed to two lanes in each direction at 99th Avenue until February 13 for work in the median. The turn bays will also be closed. Drivers are urged to use caution and be prepared to merge in advance of the work zone. For a complete listing of freeway and highway restrictions across Arizona log on to www.az511.com or call 5-1-1.